Date eyed for KC streetcar groundbreaking

Construction of Kansas City, Mo.'s initial 2.2-mile streetcar line could begin this October, pending approval by the City Council, the Kansas City Streetcar Authority said Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013.

The authority announced that a contract for the construction manager at risk will be presented to the City Council and could be approved in as little as three weeks. Utility relocation would likely be the first step in the construction process.

The authority Thursday was given a presentation by officials of HDR Inc. and Des Moines, Iowa-based architecture firm Confluence on streetcar station design recommendations and preferences. The city will oversee the public bidding process for the stations.

Last month Kansas City selected Herzog Contracting Corp., in conjunction with Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. as finalists for a $102 million contract to build the streetcar line.

The city and authority have yet to choose a specific streetcar vehicle. Kansas City also seeks federal funding for future expansion of the streetcar line, though officials say such funding is not critical to the initial segment's launch. The startup line is scheduled to open in 2015.